EMA fines Pannar Seeds
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has fined Pannar Seeds $60 000 for cultivating and putting up placards for advertising purposes on maize crops they are growing as demonstration fields in wetlands.
The ticket is accompanied with an Environmental Protection Order.
EMA’s Harare Provincial environmental education and publicity officer, Batsirai Sibanda said they executed the fine and order on February 4.
“On February, 4 2021 EMA served Pannar Seeds with an Environmental Protection Order and issued a ticket amounting to $60 000, for cultivating and putting up placards for advertising purposes on the maize crop that is in a wetland.
“EMA has therefore ordered that on or before the February 12, 2021, Pannar Seeds should have removed their crop and placard, between Aples Road and Mazowe Road along Harare Drive.
“In 2020 before the rainy season the Agency served all Seed Houses with orders warning them not to have demonstrations plots in wetlands.
“However, Panner Seeds and Pioneer Seeds went ahead and planted in wetlands defying our Order,” she said.
According to Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007, it is an offence to use a protected ecosystem such as a wetland and anyone who contravenes this section is liable to a fine not exceeding level fourteen.
“Unsustainable use of our wetlands has led to their degradation and recently Harare and Chitungwiza have experienced flooding in some of their residential areas.
“Wetlands are indispensable for the countless benefits that they provide humanity, ranging from freshwater supply, food and biodiversity, to flood control, ground water recharge and climate change mitigation. It is therefore important for us to protect our wetlands,” added Sibanda.
THE Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) is pleading with Government through the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to come up with a business stimulus package for distressed businesses and SMEs.
The plea follows the resumption of the higher level Covid19 lockdown, which hit retailers hard.
While the productive sectors of farming, mining and manufacturing were allowed to operate at close to normal, all shops except supermarkets, food shops and pharmacies have been closed since the start of the year.
In a statement CZR president Denford Mutashu, said that intervention was needed in private medical costs and the cost of medication in private pharmacies.
“The cost of an oxygen tank is breaking an arm and a leg and it is paramount to note that the bigger picture is to support the manufacturing and distribution chain through a value chain strategy that looks at all players.
“Bread has also gone up as bakers are citing a depressing operating environment where costs are skyrocketing.
“We urge business and Government to continuously engage and find lasting solutions in a bid to save the general public from current scenario that has left people poorer,” said Mutashu.
Mutashu said they were seeking the extension of business hours to enhance movement of goods and services.
“Movement of goods and services is also currently slow due to roadblocks and business has to comply.
“As CZR, we are proposing the extension of business hours from 8am to 16:30 hours while calling for curfew hours to be extended from 20:00 hours to 5am as this will go a long way to injecting life in the already struggling businesses.
“The fight against Covid19 is not a walk in the park and general citizenry has to be mindful of the prevailing situation.
“However, during the ongoing fight, it is imperative to ensure that people and the economy do not die while stakeholder engagement remains key on coming up with lockdown modalities.
“We have received numerous distress calls by business and the trend is getting worrisome,” he said.
Mutashu added: “We therefore call upon President Mnangagwa to intervene and save businesses from collapsing. The plight of business has been exacerbated by landlords who have continued to demand rentals during these successive lockdowns while others have even increased by more than 30 percent to closed businesses.
“Most businesses have been reporting losses in revenue of more than 30 percent during the current lockdown and business has diminished its resolve and capacity to pull resources towards emergencies like the Covid-19 fight.
“We are happy that the President has noted our concern with regards to the issue of VAT on rice and promised to help find a lasting solution. We therefore urge continued policy clarity and consistency on such and many issues that have detrimental effects on business confidence.”